Gameday Central: Aggies roll Vandy in laugher at Kyle Field

COLLEGE STATION – Texas A&M sophomore quarterback Johnny Manziel has grown up plenty in the past year before a nation’s eyes, but the big kid in the reigning Heisman Trophy winner occasionally still rears his head.

Or, in this instance, sticks a tongue out while strolling behind a post-game television interview with A&M coach Kevin Sumlin. Manziel was up for a little comic relief on Saturday after spending the previous three hours unleashing a week’s – and perhaps a midseason’s worth – of Aggie aggravations in a 56-24 victory over Vanderbilt before 86,584 fans in Kyle Field.

“It’s been a little frustrating of late, with some games a little closer than what we’ve wanted,” said the typically reclusive Manziel, who visited with the media for the first time in more than a month. “We aren’t where we were last year as far as all around in every aspect of our game, but we’re getting better.”

Last year at this time, Manziel was beginning to earn national attention, as the surprising Aggies finished 11-2 and with their first top five finish since 1956. This year, No. 14 A&M, in a season loaded with Aggies’ hopes the program would compete for its first national title since 1939, likely would be in the top five had it not endured a 45-41 upset at the hands of Auburn last weekend.

“This just goes to show how good we are,” A&M offensive lineman Jake Matthews said of the team’s dominating performance on Saturday against a Commodores squad that had upset Georgia a week prior. “The coaches keep making a point each week: don’t beat yourselves. We’ve yet to put a complete game together, and that’s a goal of ours.”

The Aggies (6-2, 3-2) whipped the Commodores (4-4, 1-4) despite an uncharacteristic five turnovers, including four fumbles and a Manziel interception.

“I don’t know what was going on,” Sumlin said of the multiple miscues. “I’d put another guy in there and he’d fumble, too. … We’ve got some guys who are pretty talented at running back, but we’ve got to take care of the ball.”

For his part Manziel was trying to take care of his right (throwing) shoulder, after suffering an injury late in the Auburn loss, although he returned following a series in trying to lead a comeback victory against the Tigers. Manziel sported a sling on his arm early in the week, but by late week was throwing in preparation for Vanderbilt.

“In my mind I was always going to play,” said Manziel, who completed 25 of 35 passes for 305 yards and four touchdowns, to go with the interception. “This offense and this team mean everything to me, so missing a game wasn’t really an option for me.”

While Manziel played superbly in his return from the shoulder injury, the Aggies’ defensive play turned the most heads in the 32-point blowout. A&M tallied seven sacks, including two by defensive end Gavin Stansbury, in matching its total over the previous seven games.

“I dialed it up,” A&M defensive coordinator Mark Snyder said of his calls for harassing the quarterback. “We finally could. I felt comfortable calling those pressures because everybody knew where they were supposed to be (defensively).”

Maligned safety Howard Matthews essentially put away the game with a 26-yard interception return for a touchdown on the first play of the second half, in shoving A&M to a 35-17 lead.

“Starting the second half with (that) is difficult,” Vanderbilt coach James Franklin said.

The Aggies allowed a season-low in yards (329), 61 less than their prior best (390 by Sam Houston State on Sept. 7).

“We needed an example of how we should play,” A&M defensive end Julien Obioha said of the overall defensive effort. “This is the standard we expect from our defense.”